Domestic washing machine and method



Patented May 27, 1947 DOMESTIC WASHING MAoniNE AND METHOD Kendall Clark, OakwoodLOhio, assigner to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 194s, serial No. 487,819

This invention relates to domestic appliances and more particularly to washing machines.

An object of this invention is to provide a washing machine with a scum-removing construction. c

Another object of this invention is to provide a washing machine of the centrifugal type, which is provided with a construction which arrests scum during the washing operation and dis- Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description', reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the l present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

The gure is a Vertical cross-sectional view of the tub and agitator construction of a washing machine embodying my invention.

My invention is particularly applicable to a Washing machine of the centrifugal type. In the embodiment now preferred, the washing machine is provided with an outer, imperforate,

liquid-retaining tub I0, which carries an inner perforate tub Il, spaced fromY the outer tub I0 to provide a space- I2 between the tubs. `Preferably the inner tub Il is secured to the outer tub I0 by a rivet construction .I3, so'A that the two tubs rotate, orgremain stationary, together. ,'30

The space vI2 is open between the rivets I3, so that liquid may flowfrom the part of space I2 below rivets I3 to the; space I2 above the rivets I3.

` Means are provided for agitating theV wash- 35 ing fluid and articles to be Washed. In the form now preferred, an agitator I4 is carried Yinside l the inner tub II and is of such a construction that it vproduces a toroidal circulation of the washing fluid, and articles to be washed. Pref-V 40 erably, for the washing operation, the tubs Il] and II are held stationary, and'liquid lis introduced into the tubs up to the level. I5, together with articles to be washed, which are placed within the inner tub II. The agitator. I4 is then 45 vertically reciprocated at a. rapid rate, such as 40.0 pulsations per minute. The agitator I4 may be provided witha flexible cone IBfat itslow'er edge, made of rubber orV the like, so'that the liquid and articles to be washed have imparted to them a toroidal circulation, Ithe major portion of which follows, in general, afpath entirely within the tub Il, as indicated by the arrows I'I. A

minor portion of the toroidal circulation follows -9 claims. (c1. :i4-159)' flow of liquid from the tub- II through perforations I9 in the lower part of the tub I I, then upwardly through the space I2 between the tubs ing means 20 may take the form of a series of vfilters removably secured to the tub II, for excharges the scum centrifugally during the cenl0 'trifugal drying operation.

ample by clamps 2|. However, if desired, the

filtering means maybe one continuous filter be washed during a washing period and thereafter to rotate the tubs I0 and II to produce a rapid, centrifugal drying operation. Merely by wayl of example, a mechanism such as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 358,871,

filed September 28, 1940, maybe used for this purpose. In the embodiment herein illustrated, Y

the tubs are supported on a resilient rubber-like collar 22 which supports a rotatable shaft 23 'and a vertically reciprocable shaft 24. The ro-` tatable shaft 23 is secured to the tubs I0 and II lby means of the hub 25, so that rotation of the shaftv 23 'produces rotation of the tubs I0 and Il, and preferably also rotation of the agitator I4 at the same rate as the tubs. The vertically reciprocable shaft 24 is secured to the agitator I4,'for example by the nut and bolt construction 2K6. Preferably theV shaft 24 is vertically keyed (not shown) with the rotatable shaft 23, so that the shaft 24 may be vertically reciprocated inde- I pendently of the shaft 23, but is caused to rotate with the shaft 23 when the shaft 23 rotates.v l

A flexible bellows 4.2l is provided between the agitator I4 and the inner collar .28 of the tub con'- struction, so that the liquid cannot flow down the shaft construction from the tubs. Suitable power mechanism is' connected toV the shafts 23 and 24 to produce reciprocation and rotation as Y heretofore described, and such mechanism may,

if desired, be of the construction disclosed in my said copending application.

In the operation of the machine, articles to be washed, such as clothes, and washing liquid, such as watery and soap, or Water alone, may be placed in the tubs to the level I5. The driving mechanism then causes the agitator I4 to reciprocate vertically, while the tubs Ill and II are maintained stationary. rIhis agitation produces the toroidal circulation heretofore described, as indicated by the arrows I1 and-I8. This produces a path indicated by the arrows |18, which Vincludes a washing action onthe clothes but at the same time tends to produce a. scum in the washing liquid. This scum is caught by the currentI of the toroidal flow and a portion of it is continuously carried by the minor flow indicated by the arrows I8 past the perforations ISand to the iiltering means 2|). Here the scum accumulates in a scum arresting zone on the outer surface of so that eventually avery large vproportion of the scum accumulates on the filters. Thereafter the driving mechanism stops the vertical reciprocation of the agitator I4 and rapidly rotates the tubs I and II and the agitator I4. This produces an outward centrifugalI flow of liquid through the perforations I9 and the filtering of the outer tub III, and carries with it a large amount of the scum which accumulated on the outside of the filtering means'20. The outward flow of liquid through the filtering means 20 produces a cleaning action since it tends to remove the filtering means 20 during the agitation period,

3. In a washing machine, a rotatable outer tub having a centrifugal overflow level and adapted to retain liquid when stationary and to discharge liquid centrifugallywhen rotated, an inner rotatable tub within said outer tub, there being a space between said tubs, provision for out- 'ward flow of liquid from said inner tub to said outer tub'below said level, filtering means on said inner tub below said level, and agitating means in said inner rotatable tub causing circulation of liquid from said inner tub through said provision into the space between said tubs and from said space inwardly through said filtering means into said inner tub and means to rotate said tubs l5 means 20. The liquid then flows over the lip 29 a largeamount of the scumv from the filtering means 20, sothat it can be carried `outlover the lip 28,' during the centrifugal action.` If desired, the `iiiters 20 may be further cleaned of any remaining scum either by brushingthem while they-are on the-tub, or by removing them from to dischargeliquid outwardly through said filtering means and out of said outer tub.

4. In a washing machine, a rotatable outer tub having a centrifugal overflow level and adapted to retain liquid whenstationary and to discharge liquid centrlfugally when rotated, an inner ro tatable tub within said outer tub, there being a space between said tubs, an outward flow connection from said inner jtubto said outer'tub below said level, filtering means on said inner tub below said level, and a vertically reciprocable agitator in said inner tub causing toroidal circulation of liquid below said level from said inner tub through said connection into the space between said tubs and from said space inwardly through said filtering means into said inner tub, and means to rotate said tubs to discharge liquidoutwardly and centrifugally through said filtering form, it is to beY understood that other forms f' of the claims which follow.

might be adopted, as may come within the scope The term scum as used herein is intended to define any Vor all of the undesirable Asubstances which tendto circulate with. the washing fluid and which, unless removed, tend to deposit on thearticles being washed particularly during the drying operation. Such substances include lint which comes' from the .articles themselves Vor insoluble particles produced by reaction during the washing operation, and, other such undesirable substances.

What is claimed is follows:v

1. In a washing machine, an outer` rotatable tub havingan overflow level and adapted to re-l tain liquid, an inner rotatable tub ,having perforations in its lower part' ,fiiltering means below saidlevelon the upper part yof said inner tub. an agitator causing toroidal circulation of liquid out` ofsaid inner vtub through said perforations and returning into said Ainner tub through said filtering' means, and means to rotate said tubs centrifugally tofcleanse said iiltering means by the outward centrifugal flow of liquid from said inner tub through said filteringA means.

2. In a' Washing machine, a rotatable outer tub adapted to retain liquid when stationary and to discharge liquid centrifugallylwhenrotated, an inner rotatable tub within said outer tub, 'there being a space between .said tubs, perforations in said inner tub, lteringmeans on said inner tub, and agitating :means causing 'circulation of liquid fromvsaidinnertub through; said perforationsinto the space between said tubs and from said space through said filtering means into said inner tub,` the rotation of said tubscausing outward flow of liquid throughfsaid filtering means to clean said filtering means end causing centrifugal discharge of liquid from bothv O fsaid tubs.

means and out of said tubs. v

5. In a washing machine, an outer rotatable imperforate vtub having a centrifugal overflow `Vlevel, an inner perforate tub secured to rotate with saidouter tub and having perfo-rations below said level, a vertically reciprocable agitator in said inner tub, filtering means near the upper part of said inner tub below said level, and means for vertically reciprocating said agitator during an agitating period to cause toroidal circulationy of liquidbelow said level through said perforations and inwardly through said filtering means and for centrifugally rotating said tubs during a centrifuging period to force liquid outwardly through said filtering means and to discharge liquid from said tubs.

6. In av washing machine, an outer rotatable imperforate tub having an overiiow level, an inner rotatable tub having periorations below said level, scum filteringY means on said inner tub below said level, anA agitator causing liquid to iiow out'of said inner tub outwardly through said perforations and to return to ysaid inner tub through said filtering means, and means to rotate said tubs centrifugally to remove scum from said filtering means by the outward centrifugal flow of liquid from said inner tub.

47. In a washing machine, a rotatable tub having an overflow level and adapted to contain washing liquid and articles to be washed below said level, vertically disposed filtering means below'said level and adjacent the outer periphery of said tub, means to .circulate said liquid` radially outward below and `beyond said filtering means and then upwardly and radially inward through said-'filtering meansbelow said level and to cause agitation of said washing liquid and articles to befwashed, and means to rotate said tub and filtering means centrifugally to cleanse said filtering means'by the outward centrifugal flow of liquid from said tub through said iiltering means.

8. Themethod orwashing articles which comprises agitating said articles in a washing iluid held in a confining zone to produce an outward and inward toroidal ow of a major volume of fluid and articles and an outward and inward toroidal flow of greater radius of a minor volume of uid, filtering scum from said uid below the top surface of said fluid as it flows inwardly in said minor volume of fluid, and centrifugally discharging from said zone said major and minor volumes of fluid and scum outwardly while arresting outward movement, of said articles, the centrifugal discharge of said major and minor Volumes of uld carrying said scum from said zone.

49. The method of Washing articles which comprises agitating said articles in a Washing fluid held in a confiing zone to produce an outward v and inward toroidal ow of a major volume of fluid and articles and an outward and inward toroidal flow of greater radius of a minor volume of vfluid below the top surface of said uid, arresting scum from said fluid below said top as said fluid flows inwardly in said minor volume of fluid, and centrifugally discharging from said Y zones said major and minorvolumes of fluid outsurface of said fluid in a scum arresting `zone wardly from said articles while restraining outward movement o`f said articles and centrifugally discharging scum from said scum arresting zone to dry said articles and disposed of said scum, the centrifugal dischargeof said major and minor volumes of fluid carrying'said scum from said zone. i

KENDALL CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The followina` references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STAT-ris PATENTS'.

umber Date McMahon -g1g--..2 7 June 23, 1942 

